Pittwater Online News

For those who love their mums nothing like a wonderful smelling rose that can bloom year round will remind her how much you love her - then she can fill her home with these glorious bursts of colour all the time.

For those investing in something else that grows through the years, a few tips in time to not only get those roses that won’t fade but also plant them and look after them for her.

Do not prune roses in the Autumn. Simply cut off any dead or diseased canes. Stop fertilizing 6 weeks before the first frost but continue watering during dry Autumn weather to help keep plants fortified during a dry winter. 

Bare-root roses: Plant in late autumn at leaf fall, and from late winter to early spring, before growth resumes. Avoid planting in the middle of winter when the ground is frozen. 

Containerised and container-grown roses: Plant all year round, provided the ground is neither frozen, nor very dry.

Employ these six simple must-haves, and you'll be on your way to growing the perfect rose:

• Site. Roses crave sun, at least six hours a day is ideal.

• Soil. Plant roses in rich, well-draining soil.

• Mulch. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of coarse, organic mulch around roses.

• Water.

• Inspect regularly for pests.

• Prune.

An average life span for a rose is 35 years, but they can go on much longer. Regular feeding and thick mulching is the key.

If a Rose is in trouble you can prune it almost right back to the ground. This is good news for the novice pruner, for it is nearly impossible to kill a rose by over-pruning. It also means you can rejuvenate older bushes by cutting them nearly all the way to the ground.

These roses are currently on sale at Johnson Brothers hardware until May 13th, unless sold out prior to. There's also a few other items with mum in mind - many with that touch of pink!